Acts 15

First of all, I'm sure if you read this blog you have realized that I am going through Acts in order. Secondly, you may have noticed that I inadvertently skipped chapter 15 yesterday. Well, God just pulled a stunt that left me slack-jawed a few hours ago. I had been thinking all day how I would like to write today about whatever Andy Stanley preached about instead of the next chapter of Acts. And, you guessed it, he preached his entire message from Acts chapter 15! Crazy! I kept flipping through Brannon's Bible trying to convince myself it was really happening!

Basically he made the case that most churches operate from the assumption that church is for church people. We tend to do things that make sense to and please church people. And the very first good church meeting (good ones are the ones with fights) was about whether or not church is for insiders or outsiders. Paul and Barnabas, then Peter, and finally James contended that Christ came for everyone. And although everyone includes church people, we must not do anything to make it difficult for outsiders to come to Christ. (He made a joke that the new believers' class must have been all women and kids and the men were out in the car saying they didn't want to join!) Just as you shouldn't have to undergo surgery to become a Christian, you shouldn't have to know the secret handshake to feel welcomed and ministered to at a church.

Even after the message was over (which will play not this weekend but the next at LifeChurch.tv, check it out online!), he continued on with our staff to explain some things he had led his church to do to make sure they were not accidentally programming things around insiders. For example, if you first song right off the bat talks about "how beautiful the blood flow" is, chances are, outsiders are going to be freaked out. Do you let them know what's going to happen? How long they'll be there? Why we're all singing along with the band?

Think about an unbeliever that you think a lot of. Someone you have really been praying to come to Christ. If they finally came and were sitting next to you, would you have to lean over and whisper explanations for things? Would you be embarrassed by anything? If so, he threw down this: You should either feel compelled to fix that or get out of the ministry.

Whoa. I know that sounds kind of harsh. But this chapter is clear. Church is not just for insiders. No matter what the traditions are that make us feel comfortable, we have to follow James' verdict in verse 15. Don't make it difficult for outsiders to become insiders.

Thank you so much Craig Groeschel for making personal sacrifices to enable someone like Andy Stanley to come teach us. Thank you Andy Stanley for seeking out the truth from God's Word for us today. Thank you Jesus for leading me to a place in life that I can be a part of a church that seeks with all our heart to reach the lost. To put all the rungs back on the ladder so people can begin a walk with Christ alongside those of us who already know when to stand and when to clap and "how to find the book of Ephesians as fast as the pastor's wife."